New here.....and well new to Ford. I have been an avid Chevy guy for years, and this is my first Ford. My last two Chevy trucks have still been running strong when I sold them, but were losing the battle to rust something fierce. I live in S.E. Alaska on an island, and the saltwater is rough on any vehicle. Anyways after renting a Ford Focus on my last trip to the lower 48 it dawned on me that Ford was making some nice rigs, and maybe i was ready for something new. (alright now we are all caught up).

I purchased a 2007 XLT supercrew with the 5.4 online, sight unseen. The truck has 75K miles and is one of the cleanest used trucks I have ever seen. After having it for a couple weeks, I have narrowed down some problems, and with the help of this forum solved some of them.

1. Doors were rattling......replaced bump stops

2. tailgate squeaks over bumps.....replaced strikers.

The last problem I have is the dreaded knocking/ticking diesel noise when warm and when you softly press the pedal and hold it a around 1000rpm. It goes away if you let off the pedal or apply more. But at 1000rpm cruising around town this thing sounds pretty terrible. I purchased the ford extended service plan, and my local dealer is cool. However they tell me it isn't effecting anything, and to "drive it like I stole it!" What would you do? I am tempted to have them tear into it, but I really hate to on a truck I've had for three weeks. I am concerned because he asked about drivability issues, and all I could say is I'm getting 11mpg's and it seems gutless. I realize it is a bit heavier than my old 2001 extended cab chevy, but it lacks the punch I am used to having for a V8. I guess I am looking for some feedback, and recommendations. I have read a thousand posts on here and can't make up my mind. Thanks for reading my novel!!

 

The ticking noise is 95% likely coming from your cam phasers. Nearly every one of our body style trucks will have this problem at one time or another. Mine developed the exact symptoms you're describing right around the 80k mile mark. You'll have to read up on the issue to determine what you'd like to do about it. Some people say that when that noise begins, it's bang bang on what will happen and how long the phasers will last and if they'll even fail at all. You'll really just have to look into it to see if it's something you want to have fixed or not.

My truck also get 11.7 mpg at it's best and is slow. I love my truck and wouldn't ever be driving something else, but all of them are slow haha. My old 5.3 2000 suburban, which weighed a full thousand pounds more, had less power, and was 6 years older was easily faster

 

My 2004 had noisey can phasers since I bought it at 64k miles, I took it to 108k miles never with the intentto fix them. Ran strong and got 13/14mpg avg. I was happy.

 

Well I read about the phasers for a couple hours last night, and ran accross a couple threads with video links. I found that while the noise bugs me, it isn't anywhere close to as bad as some of the videos on you tube. And one video on flatratetech.com that demonstrated a normal sound from the cam phasers pretty much sums up the symptoms and sounds from my 5.4. I guess life goes on and I will learn to live with the ticking.....unless it gets worse.

 

^ that's what I'd do. I don't plan on fixing mine, even if it gets worse. Cause the repair can be about half the cost of a new motor, and I just can see that being worth it. But I'm sorry to start off your new truck on a bad note! I hope it's good to you and that you enjoy it!

 

My 04 has the phaser noise and has since I've gotten it with 105,000 miles on it, it now has 148,000. It seems to have gotten worse recently though. When cruising through town between 1000-1300 RPMs it makes a racket. It still runs good and have been getting 15-16mpg now that the weather has broken. When the air temperatures cold/with winter blend gas I get 12-13mpg, sometimes I'll see 14 but not too often.

I was planning on getting a new timing chain, cam phasers, tensioners and guides at 150,000 miles but with recent issues with the truck it's going to have to wait.

As far as the "low power" get a programmer with custom tunes. You will think you have a brand new truck. Ford really seemed to de-tune these trucks.

 

we shall see if the noise gets worse. As I stated I bought the truck sight unseen, and sprung for the Ford Factory Premium Extended Service contract. I hope I don't have to use it, but it gives me a little piece of mind if this thing craps the bed.

Good advice on the programmer. I was looking at the SCT and was saving the money for one. But a diablo sport predator landed in my lap for 140 bucks and I couldn't pass it up. I just loaded that tonight, and boy what a difference! Doesn't feel like I have to bury the pedal to get the truck rolling anymore. I am happy with my new purchase, I am just an over critical guy. I had the patented GM 'Piston Slap' on my last rig, and I put up with that for 8 years. I just wish this Ford didn't sound so terrible when cruising through the neighborhood at 1200rpm....sounds like it is low on oil to me!

 

Haha my 'Burban had the slap! I guess they all just have quirks! Glad the programmer woke your truck up though!